Overcome Team Dysfunction

To overcome team dysfunction, Patrick Lencioni identifies five antidotes:

Go First

Mine For Conflict

Force Clarity and Closure

Confront Difficult Issues

Focus On Collective Outcomes

In order to stop the harmful effects of dysfunction, these antidotes must be applied. The leader plays a key role in making this happen.

Overcome Team Dysfunction

Antidote #1: "Go First!"

The first dysfunction, lack of trust between members of a group, is due to fear: fear of being vulnerable.

To counteract this dysfunction, you must "Go First" by opening up yourself so fellow team members can get to know you: who are and what you stand for. It means taking a risk, sharing your thoughts and ideas, and inviting others to share a differing opinion and point of view.

Antidote #2: "Mine For Conflict"

Avoiding conflict often results in "artificial harmony." This is an illusion: the conflict exists but it is unresolved. And be sure of this, unresolved conflict will re-surface, stronger than before.

That is why Antidote #2 is to actually dig for and find conflict so it can be addressed and resolved.

This practice emphasizes the point that conflict can be addressed in a healthy manner, making the individual and the team stronger.